SECI Invites Bids for 50 MW/100 MWh Standalone Battery Energy Storage System
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has invited bids for the short-term utilisation of a 50 MW/100 MWh standalone Energy Storage System (ESS) with two hours of storage capacity, to support grid operations as renewable energy generation continues to expand. The Request for Selection was issued on August 28, 2026.
Under the tender, SECI will select an Energy Storage System Developer to provide storage capacity on an on-demand basis, following a tariff-based competitive bidding process with a single-stage, two-envelope structure and an electronic reverse auction. The selected developer will enter into a one-year Energy Storage Purchase Agreement with SECI, running from November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027.
Participation is limited to operational storage projects already commissioned and interconnected with the Inter-State Transmission System, with a declared Commercial Operation Date on or before the bid submission deadline. Bidders must submit an Earnest Money Deposit of ₹2.40 crore, and the successful bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bank Guarantee of ₹6 crore.
Under the operating framework, SECI will control scheduling of charging and discharging, with the system permitted one to two cycles per day and a maximum of 485 operational cycles over the contract period. The developer must maintain at least 95% annual availability and a minimum monthly round-trip efficiency of 85%, with financial penalties applying for underperformance on either metric.
The tender is aimed at strengthening peak demand management, enabling energy shifting, and improving grid flexibility as India integrates growing volumes of renewable energy into its power system.